Hunting Satellites in Baja

[makobob]

Stargazing for satellites in Baja
by Makobob
Looking for satellites in Baja if fun. And stargazing in Baja is some of the best available. In some areas of the Baja the nearest light pollution might be a hundred miles away. This can make for some awesome viewing. Remember the campfire starts AFTER the satellite hunting is over.

Dusk, the first two hours after the sun goes down is the best viewing time. Dawn can be good too if you can get up early enough. The time frame is the same, two hours before sun up. Satellites are viewable only while they are not in the earths shadow. The sun must reflect off of them.

We are sitting out under the stars in our 0 gravity chairs at dusk. Green lasers in our hands waiting for that first satellite of the evening. The laser allows us to call out the number and track the bird so everyone can confirm the sighting. This is a usual nightly activity in camp, specially around the dark of the moon.

Some nights we spot only a few, some nights close to 30. Yes there are moore than that but we are all getting old. The eyesight is not as good as it once was. The younger guys seem to sea moore than the rest of us oldsters. The International Space Station, is the brightest thing in the sky.

You will know it when you sea it. No doubt will be in your mind. It is BRIGHT. I have seen it twice on the same evening. It orbits the earth about every hour and a half.

The space station is the largest MAN made object in our skies. There are about 35,000 other things in orbit. Some are smaller than a baseball, these you cannot sea with the naked eye. Larger objects the size of a washing machine can reflect enough light to be seen without binoculars.

So the dusk is gone and night is here. It is getting cold. Time to light the campfire, time to rehash the day. Time to enjoy the evening with friends. Welcome to mako-ville, our piece of PARADISE in Baja.

If YOU are enjoying these articles please take a minute to SUBSCRIBE to mako-ville.com and REMEMBER you are welcome to log on as a contributor and write your article on Baja with your pictures and video. Thank you ,Makobob.